If you choose the cheapest supplier (www.betapharma.cn), annual costs for topical treatment with Equol (5% solution, 2x1ml each day) will be just 160 dollar. That’s much cheaper than Finasteride. Another advantage of Equol: Equol can be used topically, Finasteride or Dutasteride can’t (blocking of 5-alpha reductase activity in the skin will only result in a mild DHT decrease because 5-alpha reductase is also present in other tissues). Due to the topical use of Equol the likelihood of occurrence of side effects is relatively low compared to Finasteride. And lastly: The long-term effects of Finasteride treatment are unknown (Alzheimer’s disease ?, arteriosclerosis ?).

very good info, thanks a lot !I have purchased Equol from LCL labs a month ago. just 500mg. I have not yet started to use it but I did mix it with 96% alcohol and keep it in my freezer. it was around USD$ 200 + shipping (expensive)

I think that even 500 mg could be enough for 1 year. DUT is 0.5 mg per day.

So yes, it is a very reasonably priced treatment. I have not started to use it yet, I was a bit scared of the side effects if this gets systemically absorbed.

Equol has a long half-life in the circulation. It could have some side effects even if used topically because a small amount will ge systemically absorbed and build-up in the system.Side effects could be the same as DUT/FIN (low DHT) and others, such as:

"Our results show that this racemic equol can induce estrogenic effects on various parameters by acting through ER when present at concentrations routinely obtained in rodents fed soy-based diets"

QuoteOriginally posted by: wantbackmyhairnowEquol is sistemically absorbed.I would not use it even if to me would regrow all the hair.If somebody want to change gender,then yes can use Equol.

That's BS. Many men produce equol themselves in the body, and did not change gender. You need a lot more to change gender. Some people also used 2.5 mg of DUT to inhibit all the DHT and did not change gender too.

I do not want to scare you,just i think many ppl try too many products and risk their health.

I read the article..I live in a country where people eat a lot of Soy. they have the longest life expectancy in the world.they have the best hair in the world. very few people are bald by age 40 and a lot of middle-aged men have their teenage hairline intact, i am really amazed each time i see them.

i have 1 hour train commute every day and take a good look at their hair..

now back to your article..i agree that consuming a lot of Soy in order ot produce Equol for hair benefits does not make sense. It will be not healthy for people not used to Soy diets in western countries.you would need a lot of Soy for a little Equol and only 30% of men are Equol producers anyway.

However, using Equol as a topical , in small doses, is different. this can have real benefits for hair wihtout the massive Soy issues.

Japanese have nice hair,but it is genetic i think,not based on the food they eat.About Equol i know it was tried topically here in Italy and it doesn't work so well to stop hair loss and it has side effects, it creates thyroid problems.About cancer i can't add nothing,it has to be proved.

QuoteOriginally posted by: EquolIf you choose the cheapest supplier (www.betapharma.cn), annual costs for topical treatment with Equol (5% solution, 2x1ml each day) will be just 160 dollar. That’s much cheaper than Finasteride.

I wouldn't call it "much cheaper" than finasteride. In fact, it may not even be AS cheap as finasteride, considering that you can get inexpensive generic versions nowadays of 5 mg tablets, and split them into quarters. Furthermore, finasteride is PROVEN TO WORK, whereas equol is still highly experimental, especially used topically like you're suggesting.

And here's another thing for you to think about: considering that the equol prices from those companies you listed were spread over a two-orders-of-magnitude range, do you feel comfortable with using the absolute rock-bottom priced equol from that cheapest company? Do you think maybe, jut maybe, it may be such low-quality garbage that it's unfit for human usage?

QuoteOriginally posted by: EquolAnother advantage of Equol: Equol can be used topically, Finasteride or Dutasteride can’t

Really? Where did you hear THAT?

QuoteOriginally posted by: EquolDue to the topical use of Equol the likelihood of occurrence of side effects is relatively low compared to Finasteride.

Well, I haven't forgotten this thread. I ordered 25g of equol (98%). I integrated equol in my regimen on 27 March 2009.

Finasteride/dutasteride and equol have two different targets. It makes sense to combine them. At the moment I'm using equol and finasteride together.

Originally posted by: el_duterino

I have purchased Equol from LCL labs a month ago. just 500mg. I have not yet started to use it but I did mix it with 96% alcohol and keep it in my freezer. it was around USD$ 200 + shipping (expensive)

I think that even 500 mg could be enough for 1 year. DUT is 0.5 mg per day.

Sorry, but I don't believe that 500 mg will be enough for 1 year. Currently I'm using more than 200 mg equol each day. If I would purchase my equol from lclabs, I had to pay more than 18'000 dollars per year. Lclabs are not a cheap supplier. I'm glad that I have found a cheaper one. So I only have to pay 10 dollars per gram (wdfpharma) instead of 470 dollars (lclabs).

Originally posted by: wantbackmyhairnow

Equol is sistemically absorbed.I would not use it even if to me would regrow all the hair.If somebody want to change gender,then yes can use Equol.

Well, equol surely won't change your gender. I didn't experience any side effects, even when I used equol orally. According to some studies equol shows only weak oestrogenicity.

Originally posted by: BryanAnd here's another thing for you to think about: considering that the equol prices from those companies you listed were spread over a two-orders-of-magnitude range, do you feel comfortable with using the absolute rock-bottom priced equol from that cheapest company? Do you think maybe, jut maybe, it may be such low-quality garbage that it's unfit for human usage?

Wdfpharma offers 98% equol. It's a relative good quality for a very low price (10 dollars per gram). Lclabs offers equol with a slightly better quality (99%) but with a price which is massive higher (470 dollars per gram).

I have taken Densiti for about 6 weeks now. At the 3 week mark I was still losing quite a bit of hair daily then about 2 1/2 weeks ago my hair loss one day was half then within another couple of days it was about a third of what it's been for awhile now. I do take Proscar and use a minoxidil product and have for years but they don't seem to be doing the job anymore and my hair loss accelerated. My hair loss now continues to be about a third of what it's been for the past few months. I'm going to keep taking Densiti, drinking soy milk and eating yogurt!